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Background
Pincer nail deformity is a transverse overcurvature of the nail. This study aimed to define the anatomical characteristics of pincer nail deformity and to evaluate the surgical outcomes.

Methods
A retrospective review was conducted on 20 cases of pincer nail deformity of the great toe. Thirty subjects without pincer nail deformity or history of trauma of the feet were selected as the control group. Width and height indices were calculated, and interphalangeal angles and base widths of the distal phalanx were measured with radiography. We chose the surgical treatment methods considering perfusion-related factors such as age, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease. The zigzag nail bed flap method (n=9) and the inverted T incision method (n=11) were used to repair deformities. The outcomes were evaluated 6 months after surgery.

Results
The interphalangeal angle was significantly greater in the preoperative patient group (14.0°±3.6°) than in the control group (7.9°±3.0°) (P<0.05). The postoperative width and height indices were very close to the measurements in the control group, and most patients were satisfied with the outcomes.

Conclusions
We believe that the width and height indices are useful for evaluating the deformity and outcomes of surgical treatments. We used two different surgical methods for the two patient groups with respect to the perfusion-related factors and found that the outcomes were all satisfactory. Consequently, we recommend taking into consideration the circulatory condition of the foot when deciding upon the surgical method for pincer nail deformity.

BACKGROUND:
Pincer nail is a deformity characterized by excessive transverse curvature of the nail plate that increases distally for which many conservative and surgical corrective modalities have been recommended.
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the outcomes and safety of modified double Z-plasty in the management of symptomatic pincer nail.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Modified double Z-plasty has been performed on 20 great toes in 12 patients from January 2008 to December 2013. The mean age of patients was 43 (range: 20-65) years. Three men and 9 women were enrolled. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, transverse angle, and width indices were investigated at the initial and the last follow-up. The average follow-up period was 2.4 years.
RESULTS:
All parameters showed significant improvement after surgery. Between the initial and last follow-up, the mean VAS score fell from 7.4 to 0.3, the mean transverse angle improved from 50 to 166°, and the mean width index improved from 65.4% to 97%. In all patients, the deformity was successfully eliminated with no recurrences. No complications were identified.
CONCLUSION:
Modified double Z-plasty provides a long-standing effective treatment for pincer nail deformity with an excellent esthetic result.

Background
Recent studies suggest that pincer nails are caused by lack of upward mechanical forces on the toe pad. However, clinically significant pincer nails are also often observed among healthy walkers. It was hypothesized that in these cases, the affected toes do not receive adequate physical stimulation from walking and loading. To test this, the gait characteristics of pincer nail cases were assessed by measuring plantar pressure during walking.

Methods
In total, 12 bilateral pincer nail cases (24 affected feet) and 12 age- and sex-controlled healthy control subjects (24 ft) were enrolled in this prospective case–control study. Plantar pressure during free ambulation in both the barefoot and shod state was assessed using a digital pressure-plate system named S-Plate platform (Medicapteurs Co. France). First toe pressure and the frequencies of peak pressure in the first toe, metatarsal head, or other foot areas were calculated.

Results
In both the barefoot and shod state, the pincer nail group had significantly lower pressure on the first toe than the control group. In both the barefoot and shod state, the peak pressure area was mostly the metatarsal head area in the pincer nail group, whereas it was mostly the first toe area in the control group. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that peak pressure area was a significant risk factor for pincer nail development.

Conclusion
Walking behavior appears to contribute to pincer nail development. Pincer nails of walkers could be treated by correcting the walking behaviour so that more pressure is placed on the toe pad.

Pincer nail deformity is the extreme, transverse, proximal-to-distal overcurvature of the finger, caused by osteophyte of the distal phalanx, and causing clamp effect on soft tissues and nail ingrowth. We report a new technique consisting of removal of the osteophyte causing clamp effect. Depressed areas of both side of the nail bed (lateral nail fold) were corrected with dermal flaps prepared from the side. Depressed areas were filled by these flaps, creating a smooth surface for the nail bed, and adequate correction was obtained.